Gwinnett man arrested for mistaken identity

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga.,None — A Gwinnett County man told Channel 2's Ryan Young he's happy to be out of jail after spending five days in lock-up for a crime he didn't commit.

"It mentally messes with you," Zentavious Holder, 24, told us as he looked at his laptop, staring at his mug shot on the Gwinnett County Jail website.

"Five counts of criminal taking and five counts of this criminal damage," Holder said as he read the list of charges against him.

Holder told Young he's hoping to get this down so he can apply for jobs and not have this effect his clean record.

Gwinnett police wanted Holder for a string of copper and air conditioner thefts after Ronald George gave Holder's name to police. George was pulled over during a traffic stop and gave them a name he's used more than once.

Turns out Ronald George is Holder's first cousin and the lie ended up putting Holder in jail.

"Don't need to be in jail, it's not the place for me because I'm not that type of person. I'm trying to do something with my life I don't need to commit crimes to make a living," Holder said.

Gwinnett police said once they discovered the error they had Holder released. They also said George has used his cousin's name before. Now Holder wants his record clear and tells Young he's not mad at his cousin for causing him to sit in jail for 5 days.

"I still have love for my cousin, always. He did the wrong thing but did the right thing by turning himself in and telling the truth," Holder said.

WSBTV